Replace plastic clamshells with these sustainable, recyclable, compostable alternative produce boxes made from paper board. Order the QUART in natural brown Kraftpak or order the LOW PROFILE PINT in white with our sustainable message on it!

THE WHY: I developed these eco-friendly containers to hold my sun sugar cherry tomatoes because of a frustration with the expensive molded pulp berry containers lacking lids and the waste of plastic clamshells. Although most plastic companies say they make the clear PET plastic clamshells from recycled content (it always says "up to" some high percentage) most consumers can’t recycle them since virtually no stores will take them back like they do plastic bags. Plus most community recycling centers will just accept #1s with spouts and throw away the plastic clamshells that customers THINK they are recycling. It is confusing since water bottles (which are also a #1 PETE) can be recycled. Water bottles have a stronger UV coating, melt at a different temperature, and do not have adhesive labels like plastic produce clamshells or printing on the container (a contaminant). This makes water bottles recyclable and desirable and produce clamshells just trash and a burden to the recycling stream. Reusing plastic clamshells is not an option since sanitizing them with extremely hot water (like in a dishwasher) will cause them to melt. So they get thrown into a landfill where they’ll take more than 200+ years to biodegrade. This doesn’t seem fair to repay the earth for its bounty with a chemical cocktail it can do nothing with.

Thanks so much for your interest in these new Sustainable Produce Containers! See below to place an order - the more orders we get, the lower the cost/container can be! Also, if you need an even stronger material in this design, for orders of 80,000 we can make either size in an F microflute cardboard.

- Linda Fritz, Owner Sun Sugar Farms, 888-883-7259

Hate those plastic clamshells for tomatoes and berries? Package your produce professionally AND sustainably with this low-profile vented container from Sun Sugar Farms. Our Sustainable Produce Container holds 1.5 pounds of cherry tomatoes or 1 quart of strawberries and is also perfect for merchandising fresh blackberries, raspberries, and even gauva, dates, kiwi and taramind pods! Made from easy to recycle Kraftpak or SBS paperboard, these containers are rigid enough for multiple containers to stack on top of it while still protecting your produce. The earth-themed cut outs allow good visibility from all angles and encourage air in and around the produce. These vents also help to minimize condensation from temperature transitions and preserve the freshness of the product. The middle tab on the hinged lid snaps into the front slot and the two side tabs can be latched by pushing in the moon for a secure seal. There’s a flat top surface for a label of up to 3”x4” or you can also wrap a label over the lid edge for long-term closure. Green text on the box encourages the customer to recycle, reuse or compost the container when finished.

Our Sustainable Produce Container is the cost-competitive, environmentally-friendly packaging alternative to the waste of plastic produce containers. It can be accepted as cardboard by all recycling centers or it can also easily biodegrade in a backyard compost pile. The containers ship flat in shrink-wrapped bundles of 200 or by the pallet, saving you space. An easy 3 step assembly has your employees loading the containers with your produce and securing the box with the lid’s quick locking tabs. All the things that go into creating your produce - the sun, rain, plants, heavens, wind and even the earthworms - then give the customer a fun peak at the tastiness that awaits them when they buy your produce!

​Please call Linda toll free at 888-883-7259, email linda AT sunsugarfarms DOT com or click on the first image below to order if you are interested in trying out this container! We would love your feedback! Low Profile Pint is available now, quart size is planned for later this year. Call for pallet pricing.

See video below on how to assemble:

PRESS: The Sustainable Produce Container from Sun Sugar Farms is the cost-competitive, environmentally-friendly packaging alternative to the long term pollution of plastic produce containers. Designed by a midwest cherry tomato farmer, the earth-themed vents represent all the elements that went into creating the produce: the sun, rain, plants, heavens, wind and even the earthworms. It has two locking mechanisms, either by sliding the tabs into the sides or by pushing the moon tabs into the sides. Unlike the plastic clamshells that most recycling centers won't take, the Sustainable Produce Container can be accepted as cardboard by all recycling centers or it can also easily biodegrade in a backyard compost pile. The containers ship flat in shrink-wrapped bundles of 200 or by the pallet, saving space, and can be stacked higher than plastic clamshells.There's room on top for a label or full color printing is available on the white Low Profile Pint. The pint size and the Quart are also available in a brown Kraftpak.

Q: Why don't you use recycled material?A: We wanted to ensure that we had materials that would meet food safety standards.

Q: What other materials can the containers be made of?
A: For orders over 85,000 the containers can be made in a "F" microflute. We are also exploring making the containers in a new paperboard that is 50% grass fiber.

Q: Does this product conform to the FDA regulations (Regulation and Deregulation of Additives for Use in Food Contact Paper in the U.S.) for direct food contact?
A: Both pint and quart are approved for food and direct contact.

Q: Does this meet BRC Global standards for papermaking and conversion?
A: Yes.

Q: Do you have appropriate food safety documentation?
A: Documentation can be provided concerning both SBS and Kraftpak.

Q: What would be the cost for custom dies to create larger / smaller containers?
A: Estimated die costs can range between $1,000 and $15,000 depending on the size, material and quantities desired. Other sizes in the planning stages are a 3 pound container (11"L x 7.25"W x 3"H) or traditional pint size (5"L x 4.25"W x 2.75"H).

Q: What would the lead time be to create new vent dies?
A: Lead time can range between 4 to 10 weeks, depending on schedules, material availabilty and quantities desired.

Q: What is the cost for custom vent dies?
A: Estimated die costs can range between $1,000 and $6,000 depending on the size, material and quantities desired.

Q: How many colors can this be printed?
A: The Low Profile Pint in SBS can be full color, crisp, detailed graphics while the Kraftpak Quart or Pint can also be printed in all colors but darker colors are recommended.

Q: What are the print plate costs?
A: There are no separate print plate costs, that cost is factored into the piece pricing. Under 30,000 the pricing could be significantly higher.

Q: What is the coating on the white item?
A: It is a layer of mineral or synthetic pigment that is hygenic that allows for excellent printing properties.

Q: Is it Kosher?
A: We are not aware if either material has been tested to be Kosher.

Q: Is it degradable?
A: Mositure and heat levels will influence how it will break down. In our backyard compost bins both SBS and Kraftpak have completely degraded within 10-14 days.

Q: Have you done any testing with mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, etc.?
A: We have shipped over 3000 pints of cherry tomatoes in the 2018 season in the SBS Low Profile Pint container. No specific testing has been done with other vegetables other than small tests in standard refrigeration units.

Q: Once packed with berries would it withstand 40 days in a cooler?
A: In unofficial testing we have kept berries and other produce in the containers for over 2 weeks with no adverse affects.

Q: Has the container been tested to see how well it will handle the moisture of the cooler?
A: No official testing has been done.

Q: How long will it take for the product to break down in both aerobic & anaerobic environments?
A: Both the SBS pint and Kraftpak quart have broken down in an unturned anaerobic compost pile within 10 days.

Q: Do you have any independent test results?
A: Not at this time.

Q: Why is there limited product visibility?
A: The design accounted for as much product visibility as possible while maintaining the structural integrity of the box. The sliding side tabs allow a quick inspection of the full contents and then can be pushed into the moons for a fast lock.

Q: What is the recommended method for securely fastening the container?
A: Insert the lid's center tab into the long slot and then slide the two tabs on the lid into the side walls.

Q: Can the container be tamper resistant?
A: Yes, instead of sliding in the enclosure tabs into the side walls, press the moons on the tabs into the box. It is difficult to open the box without ripping the moons.

Q: Why is it more expensive than standard plastic clamshells?
​A: Plastic clamshells were introduced in the mid-1980s. For a case of 352 of the 1-pound vented quarts, prices range between $0.11-$0.09/container depending on quantity. The new Sustainable Produce Container was introduced summer of 2018 and its price is $0.34-$0.19/container but it would take up less space and costs less to ship since it ships flat. As volumes increase we expect costs will go down and in a few years the pricing could be under $0.15/container. Also our container is less expensive than any other environmentally-friendly options currently on the market.

Q: Have you investigated a pre-glued auto bottom format?
A: No, we wanted to avoid any kind of adhesives because of the environment and the expense. Plus a pre-glued auto bottom format would take up more space in shipping and would not be as structurally rigid.

Q: Is the product rigid enough to stand up to extreme handling?
A: The Kraftpak is a denser cardboard than the Low Profile Pint SBS and is therefore the more rigid choice. If extreme handling conditions are required to be withstood and volumes are greater than 85,000, there is the option to produce the container in a microflute material. This is the same type of "F" flute cardboard that is used by McDonalds restaurants for their Fish Filet Sandwiches.

Q: What plans do you have to speed assembly for commercial packing and automated filling and closing?
A: We plan to develop small robots to assemble, fill, close, and lock the box on an assembly line.